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They estimate just one-sixth of the trade carried out at the store was legitimate.

Ussama El-Kurd wept as he was led away to the cells to begin a nine-year jail term after a judge told him he had caused 'harm on a truly major scale.'

Mr Justice Irwin told him: 'That volume of money laundering represented the proceeds of no doubt drug dealing, no doubt extortion, no doubt robbery and violence and all the other aspects of major crime.

'With the help of his wife and son, El Kurd ran what appeared to be an inconspicuous money exchange shop on Kensington Church Street.

The shop was a magnet for criminals who changed up to £150million in Euros before spiriting it away

'But the shop was a magnet for criminals who changed up to £150 million into Euros before spiriting it away.

'Today's sentencing stops not just these three criminals, but all those who relied on the El-Kurds to enjoy a criminal lifestyle.'

Brendan Foreman, SOCA Regional Head of Investigations, said: 'This was no legitimate business venture, it was simply an enterprise designed to enable criminals to prosper while living lives of luxury in foreign jurisdictions both near and far.

'El Kurd has personally profited and the considerable assets he managed to accrue will now be pursued through the courts.

'This investigation will have had a significant impact on organised crime groups operating in the UK and overseas.

'Many have had their criminal proceeds seized whilst others have been denied access to a money laundering mechanism that operated under the guise of a legitimate business on a UK high street.'